Hyderabad: The Hyderabad police chief`s remark Saturday that accused in almost all rape cases in the city were known to the victims has drawn the ire of women groups, who termed it "unacceptable" and contended that it amounts to justifying the heinous crime.

"What does he mean by that? You know me, so you have license to rape me?" asked Annie Raja, general secretary, National Federation of Indian Women, while talking to IANS here.

She was reacting to a statement by Police Commissioner Anurag Sharma that out of 68 rape cases registered in the city in 2012, the accused in 64 cases were known to the victims.

Addressing a news conference earlier, the police chief said the number of rape cases rose from 54 in 2011 to 68 in 2012. He went on to remark that accused in 64 cases were known to victims.

"By making this remark, he is justifying the heinous crime," said Raja, who led a silent march in the city to pay homage to the Delhi gang-rape victim who died in Singapore Saturday.

"The commissioner`s responsibility is to say that he will take action in a time-bound manner to ensure that criminals are punished and to ensure that women get justice," she said.